Bruins' coaching staff a topic at Development Camp

Monday

Jul 7, 2014 at 10:58 PMJul 7, 2014 at 11:02 PM

The Bruins' annual Development Camp begins on Wednesday with candidates for an opening on head coach Claude Julien's staff expected to come in for interviews. Bruce Cassidy, who has coached Bruins' prospects for six years at AHL Providence, is in the mix.

Mike Loftus The Patriot Ledger

Fans aren’t the only ones excited to get a look at prospects during the Bruins’ annual Development Camp, which begins at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Ristuccia Arena in Wilmington and runs through Sunday.

Coaches get into it, too – especially those from the Bruins’ AHL affiliate in Providence, since they’re pretty much always the first ones in the organization to coach the prospects as pros.

It remains to be seen if this year’s camp is the last of its kind, in that respect.

Bruce Cassidy, who has spent the last six years at Providence – the last three as head coach – has interviewed for the vacancy on Boston’s coaching staff created when Geoff Ward took a head coaching position in Germany.

“We have to decide that,” general manager Peter Chiarelli said during a conference call last week. “(Julien) and I have spoken with (Cassidy) … I know Claude has already talked to him and has had a good interview with him.”

Cassidy, 49, has coached since 1996-97 and has NHL experience as both a head coach (Washington, 2002-03 into ’03-04) and an assistant (Chicago, 20005-06). Since joining the Bruins organization as an assistant to former Providence head coach Rob Murray in 2008-09, he has coached close to a dozen players currently on Boston’s roster.

In particular, defensemen have thrived on his watch: Johnny Boychuk, Adam McQuaid, Torey Krug, Matt Bartkowski and Kevan Miller – all regulars for all or some of last season – played under Cassidy in Providence at some point.

That success in developing players at the AHL level is at least partly the reason Cassidy wasn’t immediately elevated to fill the first opening on Julien’s staff since Craig Ramsay left to become head coach of the then-Atlanta Thrashers in 2010-11.

“Bruce has been very instrumental in these young kids coming up and playing,” Chiarelli said. “Sometimes that position (AHL head coach) is more valuable, in a certain instances, than an (NHL) assistant coaching position.

“Both are quite valuable. I feel strongly about Bruce and I have had that discussion with him, so we’ll see where that one goes.”

Chiarelli said he expected some coaching candidates to interview for the opening during Development Camp, where 23 players are scheduled to work with Cassidy, assistant general manager Don Sweeney, whose major focus is on prospects and development (he sets up the camp), and a variety of other coaches and instructors.

Fourteen of the campers were selected in the last three drafts, with four of five selections from 2014 (forward Danton Heinen, the Bruins’ fourth-round choice, isn’t attending), all six 2013 draftees and four of six 2012 picks scheduled to attend.

Czech-born forward David Pastrnak, the Bruins’ first-round choice (No. 25 overall) last month, and fellow 2014 selection Ryan Donato of Scituate (second round, No. 56), the son of former Bruin and current Harvard head coach Ted Donato, are among those who will put on B’s gear for the first time. Goalie Malcolm Subban, a first-round pick in 2012 (24th overall), will be a rarity – a camper with pro experience. He spent last season with Cassidy at Providence.

The seven-player list of undrafted prospects invited to camp includes Billy Sweezey, a defenseman from Hanson. Sweezey, who played two seasons at Archbishop Williams High School, expects to play his third and final season for Noble & Greenough next year. He’s committed to Yale University.

Camp is open to the public, free of charge. Practice times (schedule to change) are 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, 11 a.m. on Thursday, 10 a.m. on Friday, 3 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday.

Mike Loftus may be reached at mloftus@ledger.com. On Twitter.com: @MLoftus_Ledger.